Gas-purifier.



C. E. REESE.

GAS PURIHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. l0. 1916.

1,240,368. Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

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APPLICATION FILED IAN. I0. IQIG 1,240,368. PatentedSept. 18, 1917.

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C. E. HEESE.

GAS PUHIFIER. APPLICATION FILED I AN. i0. 1916.

1,240,368. Patentedsept. 18, 1917.

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lGAS PURIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. lo. 191s.

1,240,368. Pmndsept. 18,1911.

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l S s 7 l t i grand C. E. REESE.

GAS PURIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. Io. i916.

1,240,368. Patented sept. 18,1917.

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CLAUDE E. nnnsn, or cnnnmxansas.

GAS-IPURIFIER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 18, 1917.

lApl'llication led January 10, 1916. Serial No. 71,284.

To aZZ lwhom it may concern; y

Be it known that I, CLAUDE E. a citizen of the United States, reslding at Caney, county of Montgomery, and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Purifiers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to.I gas purifiers and particularly to apparatus for removing mechanically the suspended impurities in gases. More particularly my invention relates to an apparat's'for removing particles of tar and dust fror'nmanufactured gas or the particles of oil dust from natural gas.

The'objectof my invention is to provide an imprpv'ed apparatus for rapidly and eiliciently removing the suspended impurities from gas. A further object of my invention is to provide improved means for maintaining theinterior walls of the apparatus in proper condition to receive and retain the particles of dust so that they may be carried ofi' with'fthe tar and oil. A further object of my invention is to provide, in an apparatus of; the.class described, means whereby 'the heavy tar may be removed from the ap-S paratus'and that without permitting the escape of'gas or materially interfering With the operation` ofl the device. A further object of myinvention is to provide an apparatus as'mentioned Vequipped with means to maintain a practically constant 'velocity of 1 the gas through the apparatus irrespective of the increase or diminution of the volume of gas supplied to the apparatus. A further object of my invention is to provide a device ofY the class' mentioned which shall be of small size and of low cost to install and maintain. Other 4objects will .appear hereinafter.

With these objects in view my invention consists generally in a casing provided with a verticallydisposed spiral wall forming, a spiral passageway for the gases and equipping said `walls with baiies to receiv'e and retain the impurities.' My invention further consists in a device as mentioned further y characterized by providing the baffles with apertures to form jets of the gas as it passes through the apparatus and in arranging these apertures in staggered relation on the several baffles so that the gas jets from the apertures in one baffle will impinge against vthe unbroken portion of the'walls of the next baille. My invention further consists in a device as mentioned in which the casing it recedes from the exhaust end of the passage way. My invention further consists in providing an apparatus as mentioned further characterized by a steam jet arranged to enter the inlet chamber in alinement with the entrance to the spiral passage way and to traverse the inlet opening to said chamber whereby moisture may be supplied to the gas and distributed therewith to moisten the particles of dust, etc., and to maintain Jthe spiral walls and the baiiles thereon in moist condition'so as to vreceive and retain the impurities; also to maintain the tar particles in a semi-fluid condition so `that they will flow downwardly on the baffles and the spiral walls and also serve as a medium to entrap the particles of dust and other impurities. My invention further consists in a device as mentioned in which the casing is.

provided adjacent the bottom with a perforated plate upon which the spiral walls are adapted to rest and forming below the same a tar chamber to receive the tar and commingled impurities separated from the gas. My invention further consists in a gas separator as mentioned 'provided with a discharge outlet or over flow arranged above the lower ends of the spirals thereby forming a seal for the gases. My invention further consists in providing an auxiliary or ter of the fluid 'passing through thefr over v flow. My invention further consists in a separator and clean out chamber as mentionedfurther characterized by a pressure equalizer to maintain the level of the liquor within the clean out chamber at the same height as the level of the liquor in the sepaioo rator. My 'invention further consists in a centrifugal separator in which the discharge is provided with means forregulating the depth of the uid within the separator so as to maintain a substantially constant velocity of thegas irrespective ofthe volume supplied to the separator. My invention further consists in a separator and discharge as mentioned in .combination with means governed by the pressure of gas within the separator for automatically regulating the position of the discharge so as to vary the cross sectional area of the spiral passage `Way proportionately to the volume of gas supplied. My invention further'consists in a gas separator and regulartor as mentioned in which the regulator is arranged to shift the discharge outlet slowly so as to be responsive to substantial changes in the volume of gas supplied but will be practically irresponsive to the yslight or rapidly fluctuating changes in the volume. My invention further consists in various details 'of construction and arrangement of parts all as will be fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specilication and inwhich- Figure 1 is an elevation of a gas separator embodying my invention in its preferred form, portions -being broken'away to more tio clearly illustrate the device,

Fig. 1a is a detail front elevation of the lower portion of the separator, showing the lower part of the clean out chamber in section,

F ig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line meer of Fig. 7, upon an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3./is a similar view taken through the tar 'chamber on substantially the line y-g/ of Fig. 7, and looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows, l

Fig. 4 is a detailv view illustrating the -arrangement of the baffles on lthe spiral walls andthe gas' tight joint between the upper edges of the spiraland the top of the casing,r l

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig-. 4,

ig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating` `a modified form of baffle, v lig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a separator embodying my invention without the clean out chamber and equipped with means for automatically regulating the depth of the liquor within the separator,

Fig. 8 is a detail-view illustrating a modilied form of regulator, and

Fig. 9 is a detail plan view of the same. Referring now to the drawings l'indicates the casing provided at the upper end with a top closure 2 and at the lower end with a'bottom closure 3. Adjacent the lower end the casing is provided with a horizontall plate or partition 4 dividing the casing into a large uppei separating chamber 5 and al lower or tar chamber 6.

In horizontal .cross section the casing may be varied in shape as found necessary in. designing the device for the particular purin flared edges 1 and the other being preferably a flat plate 1a provided at its sides with inturned flanges lb which are secured at their extreme edges to the 'edges of the portions 1, as by rivets 1c. See Figs. 2 and 3. This design is found to be practical for purifying manufactured gas but in purifying natural gas, particularly when under high pressure, it may be found more practical to make the casing entirely cylindrical; but as this amounts to merely a matter of design I have not illustrated this construction in the drawings.

Arranged within the separating chamber 5 is a pair of spiral members 7 and 8 which are symmetrically coiled within each other forming a uniform gas passageway 9 between them. The outer end of the member 7 is secured, as by rivets, tothe center of the front plate 1a as shown clearly in Fig. 2 and the corresponding end lof the member 8 is secured tothe member 1 as at 10, at substantially ninety degrees from the attachment of the member 7 to the casing wall. With this construction two chambers l1 and 12 are formed at each side of the front of greater cross"'sectional area than' the chamber 11 to the chamber 12 by first passinglbetweeii the members 7 and 8 in a spiral course to the center and then reversing its direction returns between said members to the chamber 12. An inlet pipe 13' communicates with the chamber 11 and an exhaust pipe 14 communicates with the outlet or exhaust chamber 12. It will be noted also that asthe gas passes from the chainber 1l to the passage way 9 it is gradually restricted and that as it emerges from thepassage way it gradually expands into the chamber 12. By this arrangement the gas will enter the casin at a certain velocity and the velocity will increase as-it approaches the passage way. In passing through the passage way the curvature increases to the center and then gradually decreases and finally expands into the chamber 12 to pass out at the exhaust 14 at substantially the same velocity as it entered at 13.- In thus' passing through the spiral passage way the gas is subjected to an intense centrifugal action vwhich tends to- To increase the eiiciency of the device, so

that a small separator may eifectually purify the gas I provide the inner faces of the -spirals 7 and 8 with a plurality of spaced vertically disposed baffles 15. These are preferably substantially semi-circular in cross section as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 with their concavities presented to the cur.- rent of gas and are provided Vwith base flanges 16 by means of which they are secured to the spiral walls.- The inner or free edges of the baffles are beveled or inclined as at 17 (see Fig. 5) to lessen the friction of the gas passing through the device and also to assist the baffles in pocketing or entrapping portions of the gas as it rushes past the same. -The baffles 15 are preferably provided with a plurality of apertures 18 and these apertures are arranged, in 'the successive baffles in staggered relation as shownin Fig. 4, so that the gas which will -pass in jets through the apertures 18 will impinge against the wall of the` next succeeding baiie between the apertures, thereby facilitating the depositing of the ta'r and other impurities on the baffles. In assembling the device the baiies are secured tothe plates 7 and 8 \before the latter are coiled into their spiral form.

If preferred the bafiies may be formed of angle irons 19 as shown in Fig. 6. In such case these baffles will also be provided with apertures 18 arranged in staggered relation as above described. 7a indicates braces connecting the several convolutions of the spiral walls to prevent'vibration of the same when the device is in operation.

The impurities may be more readily re.- moved from the gas when they are moistened, and to this end I provide a steam inlet pipe 20 arranged to inject steam into the chamber 11 in alinemen'twith and in the direction of the entrance to the passage way 9 and also so as to traver'se the mouth of theV inlet lpipe 13. This construction insures a" thorough mixing of the steam with the gas,

rthereby eiiciently moistening the latter and.

. slowly down the surfaces of thefwalls v7 and 8 and the baffles 15. The steam is preferably exhaust steam or steam at a low tem- `perature .to avoid vaporizing the oils in the tar or the free oils that have been separated from-the gas. Y The' spiral baiie plates 7`and 8 extend from the top closure 2l to the diaphragm or horizontal partition 4. At'. the/ upper end plate or gasket 21 arranged between the upper edges of the walls 7 and 8 and the top 2, as shown in Fig.'4; Aand the lower end of the passage way is closed by a water seal hereinafter described.

' Extendingv from the bottom of the tar chamber 6 is a discharge outlet 22 terminating in a discharge spout or over flow outlet 23 arranged an appreciable distance -above the bottom 4. A watersupply pipe 24 communicates as at 25 with the tar chamber and maintains a water level a in the separatingv chamber at the height of the discharge spout, as indicated in Fig. 1. The plate 4 is f provided with a plurality of apertures 26 lpreferably in spiral arrangement to conform to the spiral passageway 9. The tar and .impurities collected on the surfaces of the spiral walls 'and the baiiies will flow-{downwardly through these apertures 26 into the tar chamber andthe tar, 'oil and water will pass off through the discharge outlet 22 and spout 23 to the tar separator line 27.

28 indicates the clean out chamber which is arranged at the front o f the separator shell 1. This extends upwardly above the liquor level within the casing and is in open through an opening 29 formed in the front wall'la below the plate 4. The chamber 28 -is .provided with 'a liquor over flow pipe 30 communicating with 'a small shell or casing 31 into which the upper end of a vertically cumulation of heavy tar'issuch that the level b thereof reaches the over flow 30, this fact may be ascertained byl the operator by sighting through the sight plate 33, the appearance of the tar being an indication that the "accumulation of tar within the apparatus` should be removed.

To facilitate removing` the tar the top of the clean out chamber 28 isprovided with a' pair of clean out openings 34 equipped with closures 35 so arranged and hinged as at 36 to permit the same to be swung .out ofthe way ofthe operator wheno 'cleaning the devlce.

the levels within the separatorwshell vit is necessary tolprovide means for equalizing the pressure and to this end a pipe 37 is extended from the casing 1 and provided with branches 38 and 39 which communicate with the upper portions of the chamber 28 and shell 31 respectively. 40 indicates a,v

In Order' that the leva of the fluids 'Within "the clean out chamber shall be the same as vcommunication with the tar chamber 6 to clean out the chamber 28 the valve 40 is closed after which the closures 35 may be opened and the tar removed without interfering with the operation of the separator or permitting the escape of gas, sufficient tar, oil or liquor being retained in the bottom of the device to lform a seal for the aperture 29. i

As the gasis purified by centrifugal force it is obvious that itmust pass at a considerable velocity through the passageway 9. lf the gas were-delivered at a substantially uniform volume and pressure to the device this necessary velocity wouldbe maintained at all times; but in practice the volume4 of gas and its pressure, as delivered tothe separator, will under some conditions, vary considerably and for this reason ll provide( means for automatically maintaining the desired velocity yof the gas in the separator.

rlhis is accomplished by varying the cross sectional areaof the passage way 9 inversely proportionately to the volume of gas deliveredto the chamber 11. To this endl provide means, controlled by thepressure of gas within the chamber 11 for automatically raising and lowering the discharge spout 23 so as to raise or lower the water level a. Although this may be accomplished by various means I find the device shown in Fig. 7 and hereinafter described, eliicient for the purpose.

Arranged adjacent the casing l is a fluid receptacle 41 in which rests a gas bell 42.

A pipe 43 extends from the chamber 5 into open communication with-=thel bell 42. See Fig. 7. A balance beam 44 is mounted upon a shaft 45 andhas one end connected by a iiexible member 46 with the bell 4 2 vand suspended from the opposite end by a flexible member 47 is a weight 48 which balances the weightof the bell 42. Fixed to the shaft 45 is a sprocket wheel 49 connected by a sprocket chain to a shaft l50 andupon the shaft 50 is a pinion 51 meshing with a rack 52 fixed to and extending yvertically upwardly from the discharge spout 23. It is obvious that upon increase of pressure in the chamber 5 the bell 42 will be caused to rise thereby lowering the spout 23 and increasing the cross sectional area of the-passage way 9 by lowering the. water level c., Upon decrease of pressure in the lchamber 5 the bell 42'will drop therebyraising the spout 23, hence the water level a, and thereby decreasing the cross sectional area of the passage way and maintaining the necessary velocity of the separator.

To avoid the rgulator acting too quickly, or with minor uctuations of pressure 4I equip the bell 42 with a bottom 43 and provide the same with an aperture 54 through which the pipe 43 extends, said aperture being but slightly greater in diameter than gas. as it- ,passes through thev said pipe so as to limit the speed with which the fluid may be received into or discharged from the bell.

lf desired, the? device may be equipped with means whereby the water level, hence the cross sectional area of the gas passage, may be varied manually to certain fixed limits, thereby dispensing with the automatic regulator above described. To this end the discharge 22 terminates in a stand pipe 55 the upper end of which is at substantially the highest level ever desired for the water in the segarator. From the stand pipe 55 extend discharge spouts 56, 57, 58 and 59 arranged vat different levels and each equipped with a valve 60 and. all discharging into the tar separator line 27, see Figs. 7 and 8. lt is obvious that by manipulating the valves 60 the water level a may be maintained at any of the four levels desired. j

While l have described the preferred form of embodiment of my invention it is obvious that the device may be varied within the limits of the appended claims, to adapt the same for-various uses and under various conditions under which it may be used, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

.l claim:

1. in a device of the class described, a casing, a pair of intercoiled spiral walls in said casing forming a passage way between them, s aid casing being provided with inlet and outlet ports in communication with the ends of said passage ways, a plurality of spaced vertically disposed' baiiles arrangedl on the outer walls of said passage way, each of said bailes being provided with a series ofperforations and the perforations in adjacent baiiies being. arranged in staggered relation, substantially as described. l

2. ln a device of the class described, a casing,.a pair of intercoiled spiral walls in said casing forming a passage way between them said casing being provided with inlet and outlet ports in communication with the ends of said passage ways, a plurality of spaced vertically disposed bailles arran ed on the outer walls of said passage way, said baiiies comprising flanges curved in horizontal section to form pockets, substantially as def scribed.

3. In a device ofthe class described, a casing, a pair of intercoiled spiral walls in said casing forming a passage way between them, said casing being provided with inlet and outlet ports in communication with the ends ing, a pairyof intercoiled spiral walls in said casing forming a passage way between them,

said casing being provided with inlet andv outer walls of said .passage way, said bailles' comprising flanges curved to form pockets and the inner or free edges of said flanges being inwardly beveled, substantially as described. f

5. In a device of the class described, a

casing, a pair of intercoiled spiral walls in said casing forming a passage way between them, said casing being provided with inlet and outlet ports inI communication with the ends of said passage ways, a plurality of spaced vertically disposed bailies arranged on the outer walls of said passage way, said ba'lies comprising flanges curved to Aform pockets and the inner or free edges of said flanges being inwardly beveled, and said flanges each being provided with a series of perforations and the perforations in ad- .jacent baliies being arranged in staggered relation, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described, a casing, a pair of intercoiled spiral walls arranged within said casing forming a passage way between them, said casing being provided with inlet andv outlet ports, the

walls of said casing and said spiral walls` being arranged to form inlet and outlet chambersin communication with said ports and the respective ends of said passage way with the inlet chamber tapered toward the inlet end of the passage way and the outlet chamber flared from its end of the passage l.

way, substantiallyy as described.

7. In a device of the class-described, a a spiral wall in said casing forming a passage way, a waterseal for ythe lower end of said passage way, said casing being provided with the clean out opening below the level of said water seal, a clean out chamberin communication with said casing through said clean out opening, there being an aperture in the 'upper portion of said chamber, and a closure for said aperture, substantially as described. 8. In a device of the class described, a casing, a spiral wall in said casing forming a passage way, a water seal for the lower end of said passage way, said casing being provided with a clean out opening below the level of said, water seal, a clean out chamber in communication .with said casing throughsaid clean out opening, there being anaperture in the upper portionl of said chamber,- a closure for said aperture, and means for equalizing the pressure within said casing and said chamber, substantially as described.

91 In a device of the class described, a casing, a spiral wall in saidcasing forming casing,

' opening,

. an aperture in the upper portion 'of said chamber, a closure for said aperture, a pipe extending from said casing above said water seal and communicating with the upper portionl of said chamber and a valve in said plpe, substantially as described.

10. In a device of the class described, a casing, a spiral wall in said casing forming a passage way, a water seal for the lower end of said passage way, said casing being provided with a clean out opening below the level of said water seal, a clean out chamber in communication with said casing through said clean out opening, there being an aperture .in the upper portion of said chamber, a closure for said aperture, an4

' ing vin the last said over flow, a pipe leading from the upper end of said casing and communicating with the upper end of said chamber and a valve in said pipe, substantially as described. f

11. In a device of the class described, a casing, a passage way, a water seal for the lower end of said passage way, said casing being provided with a clean 'out opening below the level of said water seal, a clean out chamber in communication with said cas.

ing through said clean out opening, there being an aperture in the upper portion of said chamber; a closure for said aperture, aliquor over flow pipe leading Jfrom the lower end of said casing, an overflow pipe leading from the upper end of said chamber, a trap shell in communication with the last said pipe and provided with a sight a drain pipe extending upwardly into said a pipe extending from saidvcasing and provided with branches in communication'with said chamber and said shell respectively, and a valve in said pipe, substantially as described.

12. In a device' of the class described, a casing, al horizontal perforated partition in said casing dividing the same into an upper separating chamber and a lower or tar chamber, a spiralwall in said separating chamber and resting on said horizontal partition,

'a water seal extending above the lower end a spiral wall in said casing forming shell to the normal liquor level, l

opening and a closurefor 139 said opening, a liquor over liow for said casing, a liquor over flow for said clean out chamber, a pipe extending from said separating chamber to the upper portion of said clean out chamber and a valve in saidpipe, substantially as described.

13. 4In a device of the class described, a casing, a spiral wall in said casing forming a spiral passage way, inlet and outlet ports in communication with the ends of said passage way respectively, a water seal for the lower end of said passage way and means governeddirectly by the pressure in said passage way for varying the level of said water seal, substantially as described.

14. In a device of the class described, a gas passageway, and means controlled directlyby the pressure of gas in said passage way for varying thel cross sectional area.

thereof inversely proportionately to theA y pressure, substantially as described.

15. In a device of the class described, a spiral passage way, a water seal for the lower end of said passage way, an over How and means governed directly by the pressure of gas in said passage way for varying the height of said over flow, substantially as de' scribed.

1.6. In a device of the class described, a casing, a spiral wall in said casing forming a spiral passage way, inlet and outlet ports in communication with the ends of said passage way respectively, a water seal for the lower end of said passage way and means for varying the level of said water seal consisting of a fluid receptacle, a pressure bell slidably arranged within said receptacle, al pressure pipe in communication with said bell, an overflow outlet connected to the bottom of said casing, means between said bell and said over-flow outlet for raising and lowering the latter upon variation of thev Y. pressure 1n said casing and a source of water supply for said casing, substantially as described.

17. In a' device of the class described, a casing, a spiral wall in said casing forming a spiral passage way, inlet and outlet ports in communication with the ends of'said passage .Way respectively, a water seal -for the lower end of said passage way, an outlet connected to the bottom of said casing, an over-flow spout slidably arranged within said outlet, a Huid receptacle adjacent said casing, a pressurebell slidably mounted for vertical movement within said receptacle, a

lpressure pipe within said receptacle and 18. In a device of the class described, a l

casing comprising an upper separating chamber and a lower tar chamber, a spiral wall in said separating chamber, a water seal extending above the lower. end of said spiral wall, 'an outlet pipe connected to said tar chamber, an over-flow outlet slidably connected to said outlet pipe, a iiuid receptacle above said overflow outlet and adjacent said casing, a pressure bell slidably arranged within said receptacle, a pressure pipe communicating between said bell and said casing, a shaft adjacent said receptacle, means between said shaft and said bell for rotating the former upon raising and lowering of the latter, additional means between,

said shaft and said over-How outlet-for raising and lowering the latter upon the rotation of said shaft and a source yof water supply for said casing, substantially as described. l j

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specilication in the vpresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLAUDE E. REESE.

Witnesses:

L. L. BAKER, O. L. HEMMICK. 

